Postdoctoral Appointee - Synchrotron Studies of Crystal Defects for AI Modeling

Responsibilities

• Design and perform advanced synchrotron experiments to probe structural, chemical, and dynamic evolution of defects in thin films and heterostructures.
• Utilize techniques such as Bragg coherent diffraction imaging (BCDI), Laue microdiffraction, ptychographic laminography, and X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) to study strain, dislocation networks, voids, and interfacial morphology.
• Develop in-situ and operando experiments under electrical, thermal, or mechanical bias to capture real-time defect dynamics.
• Integrate multimodal datasets and collaborate with AI/ML teams for data fusion, physics-informed model validation, and causal discovery of defect-property relationships.
• Publish high-impact research results and present findings at national and international conferences.
• Position Requirements
• Ph.D. completed in the past five years or soon-to-be completed in physics, materials science, chemistry, engineering, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated expertise in one or more synchrotron X-ray methods such as BCDI, XPCS, ptychography, Laue microdiffraction, or related coherent/imaging techniques.
• Proven ability to design, conduct, and analyze complex synchrotron experiments.
• Proficiency in scientific programming (Python, MATLAB, etc.) and quantitative data analysis.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multi-institutional team environment.
• Ability to model Argonne's core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork.
• Interpersonal skills, oral and written communication skills, and ability to interact with people at all levels both within and outside the laboratory.
• Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Experience
• Experience with in-situ or operando measurements under electrical or thermal bias.
• Familiarity with multimodal data correlation or integration with microscopy/spectroscopy datasets.
• Awareness of AI/ML data structures and metadata practices for interoperable experimental data.
• Strong background in materials physics, thin films, or functional oxides/2D materials.
• Job Family
• Postdoctoral
• Job Profile
• Postdoctoral Appointee
• Worker Type
• Long-Term (Fixed Term)
• Time Type
• Full time
• The expected hiring range for this position is $70,758.00-$117,925.00.
• Click here to view Argonne employee benefits!

Benefits

Additional Information

The Surface Scattering and Microdiffraction (SSM) group in the X-ray Science Division (XSD) at the Advanced Photon Source (APS), Argonne National Laboratory is seeking Two Postdoctoral Appointees , both focused on multimodal synchrotron characterization of defects and interfaces in oxides and 2D materials. These positions are part of a cross-facility initiative to build an "AlphaFold for Microelectronics" -a physics-informed AI framework that links composition, structure, and operating conditions to defect evolution and functional performance. The successful candidates will lead experimental campaigns using advanced synchrotron X-ray techniques to generate quantitative, AI-ready datasets that reveal defect-mediated mechanisms governing the stability, adhesion, and transport behavior of thin films and heterointerfaces. The postdoc will lead experimental design, data acquisition, and quantitative reconstruction. The appointees will work within a highly collaborative team spanning multiple DOE user facilities, who are developing complementary microscopy and AI/ML workflows, ensuring that multimodal datasets (X-ray, electron microscopy, and spectroscopy) are well-aligned and interoperable. These positions offer a unique opportunity to pioneer multimodal, physics-driven synchrotron research that bridges defect dynamics and functionality in emerging microelectronic materials.

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